Portable sewing machines are renowned for their outstanding and very unique design compared to the average sewing machine. Portable sewing machines require no cords at all; they are completely and entirely cordless! We’ve written about the best portable sewing machines before, but this review will be ore about the benefits of going portable. All portable sewing machines normally run on 4x AA batteries which enable it to work without any cords. It is the fact that they are completely cordless that allows the sewing machine to be portable in the first place.

Other exceptional features include things such as its supreme lightness. It is very light in weight makes it easier to move around and enables it to be even more portable. This idea is explored more fully further on. Most people find the best advantage of the portable sewing machine is the price; it is hugely lower in price than normal sewing machines.

In general, any portable sewing machine that is available to purchase to the public will come equipped with a slow or fast foot pedal control. However this is normally only true for the electric portable sewing machines. Similarly to normal sewing machines with the portable ones there are still many types available to choose from. This variety allows for the correct type of sewing machine to be purchased, enabling better results when sewing.

Portable sewing machine can be very useful. Normal sewing machines tend to be fairly heavy. This makes it somewhat troublesome to carry or even lift for that matter. They are also quite large and a rather awkward shape, therefore it is difficult to move and get a steady grip and feel comfortable to move the sewing machine. It can be very handy to have a portable sewing machine as it is surprising how often a sewing machine may need to be moved.

If you are going on holiday and cannot stand to be away from your sewing machine that long then the portable sewing machine is the ideal solution to this problem. It can easily fit into any suitcase and will not make the bag too heavy to carry. Also the user may wish to move the sewing machine to somewhere more suitable in their house. This will take a matter of moments with a portable sewing machine. However, on the other hand a full sized sewing machine this process could take a long time and be awfully dangerous. Also in the event of a sewing machine owner having to move house moving the sewing machine is yet another problem.

Again it is heavy and frankly a pain to move. The portable sewing machine takes up little room and weighs very little. It also comes with no cords making for less room taken up and weighing even less in total. A final way a portable sewing machine can be of great use is for social events. Meetings or gatherings of people who want to celebrate of hold an event for their shared love of sewing machines would require for the users to bring along their sewing machine.

Of course this would be so much more convenient if all members of the social event have a portable sewing machine for the many reasons mentioned above.

Husqvarna Sewing Machines is a company who are now go by the name VSM Group which stands for Viking Sewing Machines. It is a company which is based in Huskvarna; this can be located in Sweden. It first began producing sewing machines in the year 1872. However Husqvarna was in fact originally a military based company which was actually founded in the year 1689 to produce muskets for the Swedish Army. Since this the company Husqvarna has grown in size and now produces items for a much wider range of people. This means that they are now able to gain much higher profits than before due to this increase in size of their target audience. Its production has since changed to weapons, sewing machines, kitchen equipment, bicycles, motorcycles, lawn mowers, chainsaws and construction products.

The company is known all over the world for designing, making and selling what is commonly referred to as “smart sewing machines”. These models are computerized sewing machines which sold under the brands called Husqvarna and Pfaff. The least expensive range of sewing machines Husqvarna Sewing Machines do is the mechanical sewing machine collection these are not computerized and called Huskystars. In contrast to this, the most expensive range of sewing machines from this company is known as The Designer series. This range of sewing machine offer a selection of great features, which can be expected because these sewing machines do cost slightly more than the others that Husqvarna have to offer.

The workers of Husqvarna Viking like to feel as if they are close to their clients and uphold a tight relationship with each and every client individually by tailoring to their personal needs and offering opportunities which are not on offer from their competitors. They attempt to achieve this by doing more than just supplying a service or terrific produce. Their sewing machines are designed to be easy and fun to use and to inspire the creativity within each and every client. They also hold quilting competitions amongst their customers, as well as developing and arranging quilt exhibits. They do this in hope to promote quilting amongst budding sewers, experienced quilters and the general public who are brand new to the mere concept of quilting. They also do this to boost the number of sales of Husqvarna Viking sewing machines which has proven a different technique yet rather successful. The range of sewing machines offered by Husqvarna that specialize in quilting have unique features that make quilting more simple, therefore a more pleasurable experience on the whole for the user.

The other types of machines retailed by Husqvarna include; embroidery machines, overlock machines, embellishing machines as well as a few more machine types. There is also a large amount of accessories for your machine that is on offer to purchase. The list of accessories comprises of various foot types such as elastic, gathering and piping. In addition to this you can also buy overlock needle threaders, needle inserters, needle plates, lower blades, upper blades, waste trays and more. These accessories make sewing just that little bit more user-friendly and less time consuming.

Older and more basic sewing machines work a little differently to the modern machine. Today’s new and more technologically advanced home sewing machines come equipped with built-in computers, as well as a small monitor display which makes for easier operation and control.

In these types of models the computer is directly in control of numerous different motors. The motors that the computer controls precisely moves several things including; needle bar, the tensioning discs, the feed dog and other elements in the machine. With this detailed and definite control, it is now possible to produce a very vast range of various different stitches and stitch patterns.

The computer is also solely responsible for driving the motors at just the right speed enabling the needle bar to move up and down, as well as from side to side in any particular stitch pattern. Typically in a computerized sewing machine the computer within it is programmed for many different stitches which are stored digitally in a removable memory disk or the cartridge.

There is a very advanced feature which has only recently come into play; the sewing-machine computer is also able to connect up to a PC in order to download even more patterns directly from the Internet.

Some electronic sewing machines do also have the ability to create complex embroidery patterns, similarly to the computerized sewing machine. However, these machines have a fixed motorized work area that has the job of holding the fabric in a certain place underneath the needle assembly. This is what allows electronic sewing machines to achieve the same precise and very detailed stitches and stitch patterns. More often than not electronic sewing machines also come accompanied with a series of sensors, these tell the computer how all of the machine components are positioned.

If the work area is carefully moved forward, backward and side to side, followed with an adjustment of the needle assembly to vary the stitching style, the computer can then produce an infinite number of elaborate shapes and lines.

Unlike the computerized sewing machine the electronic sewing machine user has to load a pattern from their memory or create and develop an original idea, and the computer does almost everything else. The computer prompts the sewer to replace the thread or make any other adjustments when necessary.

These two machines are very similar, modern and up to date.

Obviously, the computerized sewing machine is an extremely high-tech sewing machine that is clearly a lot more complex than the fully manual sewing machines of 200 years ago. Surprisingly they are both built around the same simple stitching system which is as follows. A needle passes a loop of thread through a piece of fabric, where it is wound around another length of thread. This, at the time unique and genius, method was one of those rare, inspired ideas that changed the world forever. Without it there would not be hundreds of products, businesses, jobs available and things that have been made from the sewing machines, which again is a lot of items.

Quilting is a technique used to make quilts and sometimes similar products. There are several ways and methods of quilting which can be done to achieve similar results. Sewing machines are not a quilting necessity. Quilting is usually completed by starting from the middle, and moving outwards towards the edges of the quilt.

But by using the right sewing machine it generally tends to be the quickest and least tiresome option. However it can set you back by quite a significant amount unless you browse around numerous sellers before investing in anything.

History Of Quilting Sewing Machines

The first evidence of quilting ever being done was in Asia in the first century AD. This was essentially the exact same technique used now-a-days and quilting was done for the same purpose then as it is now. Layers of material would be sewn together in order to make something which can provide more warmth. Ancient Egyptian sculptures show figures which appear to be wearing quilted clothing, possibly for warmth in the chilly desert evenings. From this we can see the incredible history of quilting and see that surprisingly, it dates back from an extremely long time ago.

From it’s humble roots we see that quilting has come a long way!

Machine quilting is the process which uses either a home sewing machine or a longarm machine to sew the layers together. When using a sewing machine, the layers which are to be sewn are firstly tacked together before the quilting process. This involves laying all of the layers out on a flat surface and either pinning or tacking the layers together. This process ensures they remain in the exact right place when sewing them together using the sewing machine, for ultimate precision.

Longarm Quilting is quite dissimilar as it involves placing the layers on a special frame. The frame has bars which the layers are then rolled around. This means that the layers can be kept together without the need for tacking or pinning. These frames are used with a professional sewing machine mounted on a platform.

The final method of quilting is hand quilting which just involves stitching the layers together with a needle and thread by hand.

Quilting Accessories

A new accessory for sewing machines has recently been introduced to the market to improve patchwork and quilting experiences. It is called “The Big Foot”. Now this name may sound odd but it is called this for a reason. The big foot is an accessory which fits onto the sewing machine. It was designed to give more control with free-motion when quilting or when doing embroidery. This product normally sells at around $30 to $40 depending on the retailer and the size as a smaller option is also available to buy, this is slightly cheaper in price.

Who Makes A Good Quilting Machine?

Janome is debatably the best sewing machine manufacturer - see all Janome sewing machine reviews - specializes in designing, making then selling sewing machines that are great for quilting. Some examples of this are the Janome 6600P, Janome DXL603, Janome QXL605 and Janome Pro 5000Q. The price of these sewing machines ranges from $80 to about $900. This is very reasonable as they promise to provide an excellent quilting experience.

The Brother PC-420 is a great sewing machine. Inspired by the Project Runway hit TV series, the PC-420 is perfect for someone serious about sewing or fashion design.

Many people get this as an upgrade to an older sewing machine - and what an upgrade it is!

For starters it has 294 utility and decorative stitches total. This is a computerized sewing machine so your stitches are going to come out very nice and very uniform.

One of the best things about the PC-420 is the auto thread feature. This is such a great time saver. Plus it will automatically snip the top and bottom of the thread for you. This means with the PC-420 your thread will last longer and it saves you money in the long run.

The PC-420 looks good and has sturdy construction all around. It’s the perfect weight too - heavy enough to sit still, but not so heavy you can’t move it when needed.

We’ve read about some people throwing some heavy-duty work (fake fur, thick fabrics, even leather!) at the PC-420 and it handles it like a pro. Yet it is delicate enough for every day sewing, lingerie, and whatever kind of fashion you can imagine.LCD Computerized Display

Here’s a view of the computer window. It’s very easy to navigate and with the included manual you will understand it in no time.

It can do a very strong stitch - the “triple stitch” is perfect for pillows or anything needing sturdy construction. It’s even got a one touch reverse stitch. Talk about handy!

This machine is also very easy to use and maintain. The bobbin area is easy to access. No screws are in the way of the easy to remove plastic housing.

Keep in mind this is a highend model, and many sewers report that using official Brother bobbins is the best way to go. By using official Brother ones you will prevent jams.

Compared to some of the $600 or $700 Husqvarnas, the Brother PC-420 is an absolute bargain. I know lots of people compare these two machines. So for the price and total value, the PC-420 is a much better buy. Plus it is quieter than comparable Berninas and comes with a generous 25 year limited warranty.

When you buy the PC-420 at Amazon, you get several accessories as well. Brother includes a number of presser feet, 4 new bobbins, a second spool pin, a cleaning tool, and a hard cover case. It’s everything you need to make your sewing project dreams a reality.

I’ve noticed lots of people on the Etsy forums talking about their favorite sewing machines. One model that keeps popping up with favorable reviews is theSinger Confidence 7470. Why is this?

For starters this is an electronic sewing machine with 150 built in stitches. This means the stitch controls are all done electronically, at the push of a button. This cuts down on errors and provides a consistent stitch quality all around.

I think another fun feature on this machine is the ability to actually change the stitches on the fly! Instead of having to only use the factory default looks, you can stretch, reverse, or edit the paths. This is really cool and let’s you make some custom pieces.

You’ve got 4 different types of automatic buttonholes, as well as alphabet and quilting stitches to choose from.

The Confidence 7470 is also quieter than many other Singer models. The only downside of this noise reduction is an increase in weight of the machine.

Like most Singer sewing machines, the 7470 has a good manual. Many people have also praised the simple to operate bobbin, as well as the auto tension.

I trust what the people on Etsy have to say - they’ve been using this for machine for a few years, and rely on it to make their crafts for sale!

This sewing machine is almost 100 years old but look at it go! The stitching seems tight, I bet it it still has a good solid bobbin, and it runs well. Many people believe that Singer makes the best sewing machine possible, and it’s hard to argue they are quality built.

Ever since the first sewing machine was made in the 19th century the design has been improving but the fundamentals have stayed the same. Sure, you can get computer controlled models, and stronger actions, but at it’s heart the sewing machine is still the same. I find it interesting. If you were to compare the end result from this antique sewing machine to the result of the best sewing machine today, most people couldn’t tell the difference. That’s a testament to the strength of this craft, and also shows how when you’re buying new sewing machines you’re buying features to make the act of sewing easier on you!

Leather can be interesting to work with - many patterns call for it, but if you’ve never used it before some problems can arise.

To determine the best sewing machine for this use, it depends on what kind of leather you’ll be using.

For thin or medium leather, the best sewing machine is probably what you have So long as you keep in mind the points below you should be okay. Modern machines are powerful for simple leather projects.

For thick or tough leather, things get a little more complicated. At this class of fabric it can be like sewing 4 or more layers of denim!

The best sewing machine will be one that can:

Take the heavy thread you’ll need. Many experts recommend against cotton thread, and prefer polyester thread.

Use the heaviest needle size possible. A 11, 14, or 16 would be good.

Make as wide a stitch as possible. 5 to 5-1/2 is a good idea. If your machine can’t go above 3-1/2, don’t use it - it might rip the leather.

Take a teflon or walker foot.

The most important consideration is using the best sewing machine needles for leather. Because leather will rip if the stitches are not wide enough apart you can get special needles. These are called knife edged needles made just for sewing leather, or a double needle.

For specific examples, many experts believe the best sewing machine for leather to be a Singer 20-U, Bernina 950, or an industrial class Pfaff or Brother. These are all good sewing machines for leather. If funds are tight, don’t overlook what you already have.